Table 1 The Health Promoting Schools Intervention delivered by Lay School Health Counsellors

School Mapping & Needs Assessment

Mapping to assess the infrastructure, health environment and health resources available. A structured questionnaire was administered to school management, teachers, students and parents to identify health and wellbeing priorities. This information was used to tailor the intervention for each school’s needs.

Speak-Out Box

A letter box mounted on a wall in an easily accessible area in which school members could make anonymous submissions on any health, social or other school related concern. The SHC reviewed submissions on a weekly basis and followed these up as appropriate.

Health Camps

Visual Screening and BMI Assessments. SHCs were trained to take weight and height measurements and to conduct visual screening to identify possible refractory errors and colour blindness. Body Mass Index was estimated, and students identified with possible nutrition or visual problems were given appropriate advice/referral.

Life Skills Education

The Life Skills classroom programme was developed using international and national resources. The programme was delivered over one period (35–40 minutes) per class per week. The sessions were designed to be interactive and activity based. They covered physiological and sexual and reproductive health; psycho-social issues/mental health; and, effective learning techniques.

Individual Counselling

Face to face counselling for students who were self-referred or referred by a teacher or principal. In the first year, a clinical psychologist conducted the counselling sessions in the presence of the SHC. In the second year, the SHC provided counselling to the students, with ongoing supervision and support from the NGO staff.